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Sal Viscuso

Born · October 5, 1948 (76 years old)

Known For: Acting

Place of Birth: Brooklyn, New York, USA

Bio

The dedication of Sal Viscuso to the craft of acting can be dated to a singular evening in 1967. A college freshman, he happened upon a teleplay of Ronald Ribman's CBS Playhouse: The Final War of Olly Winter (1967) and was so inspired by Ivan Dixon's Emmy-winning rendition of the title role that he entered the drama department the very next day, later explaining, "I felt that there I had found my family." He earned his BA from the University of California at Davis, then went on to study with Olympia Dukakis at NYU School of the Arts, from which he graduated with an MFA. Opportunities presented themselves rapidly, and Sal made his film debut in the classic The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974). An introduction to Burt Metcalfe, associate producer of the iconic series M*A*S*H (1972), led to his move to Los Angeles, and soon Sal was a regular on NBC's sitcom The Montefuscos (1975). He was an off-screen loudspeaker announcer (as well as various other characters) on M*A*S*H (1972); appeared in Gene Wilder's homage to 1920's Hollywood, The World's Greatest Lover (1977); improvised in Robert Altman's Three Women (1977); and played multiple parts on the beloved Barney Miller (1975) (one of which was written especially for him by the show's creator, Danny Arnold). He was also to feature in what TIME magazine has rated as one of the "Top 100 TV shows of all time," Susan Harris's Soap (1977). His vocationally challenged Father Timothy Flotsky (and the show's depiction of one of the first openly gay characters on network television), created instant controversy that attracted 19 million viewers to the series premiere. Shortly thereafter, Sal commenced his professional association with the Bancroft/Brooks combine of talent, first appearing in Anne Bancroft's Fatso (1980), and then in Mel Brooks' Spaceballs (1987), about which he has remarked, "I continue to get more attention from that project than from anything I've ever done!"

Known for

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

The Mentalist

The Mentalist

Spaceballs

Spaceballs

9-1-1

9-1-1

Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile

Judge

2022

Station 19

Mr. Phillips · (1 episode)

2018

9-1-1

Anton · (1 episode)

2018

Hollywood Seagull

Dr. Don Dorn

2013

Scandal

Clark · (2 episodes)

2012

Castle

Tommy Valentine · (1 episode)

2009

The Mentalist

Walter · (1 episode)

2008

The Cure for Boredom

Joey

2001

When Billie Beat Bobby

Sports Writer Mike

2001

The Amati Girls

Father Dedice

2001

Boston Public

Arthur Ryan · (1 episode)

2000

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Sal Avelino · (1 episode)

1999

Providence

(1 episode)

1999

EZ Streets

(1 episode)

1996

Pinocchio's Revenge

Jail Guard

1996

The Dentist

Matthew Zeigler

1996

Kicking and Screaming

Bar Teacher

1995

Perry Mason: The Case of the Jealous Jokester

1995

Touched by an Angel

Dennis · (1 episode)

1994

ER

Mr. Weller · (1 episode)

1994

Diagnosis: Murder

Dick Douglas · (1 episode)

1993

Diagnosis: Murder

Phil · (1 episode)

1993

Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman

Bobby Bigmouth · (5 episodes)

1993

Batman: The Animated Series

Monk (voice) · (1 episode)

1992

Beverly Hills, 90210

Hal Zareth · (1 episode)

1990

American Dreamer

(1 episode)

1990

Dream On

Policeman (uncredited) · (1 episode)

1990

Booker

(1 episode)

1989

14 Going on 30

Mr. Lloyd

1988

Jake and the Fatman

(1 episode)

1987

Spaceballs

Radio Operator

1987

Sledge Hammer!

(1 episode)

1986

Jake Speed

News stand Attendant

1986

Matlock

(1 episode)

1986

2 1/2 Dads

1986

Amazing Stories

Sergeant Redmond · (1 episode)

1985

Spenser: For Hire

(1 episode)

1985

This Wife for Hire

Paul Bellini

1985

Cover Up

(1 episode)

1984

Hunter

Sam Olan · (1 episode)

1984

Princess Daisy

Wingo · (2 episodes)

1983

Max Dugan Returns

Coach Roy

1983

It Takes Two

(1 episode)

1982

Silver Spoons

(1 episode)

1982

Family Ties

Richard Jacobs · (1 episode)

1982

Family Ties

Richard Grasso · (1 episode)

1982

Cagney & Lacey

Keppler · (3 episodes)

1982

Fantasies

1982

Fame

(1 episode)

1982

Falcon Crest

Judge Connor Stewart · (1 episode)

1981

Simon & Simon

(2 episodes)

1981

Today's F.B.I.

(1 episode)

1981

Magnum, P.I.

Herbie · (1 episode)

1980

Fatso

Vito

1980

The Facts of Life

(1 episode)

1979

Sergeant Matlovich vs. the U.S. Air Force

1978

Fantasy Island

Prosecutor · (1 episode)

1978

The World's Greatest Lover

Assistant Director

1977

The Love Boat

Doug Ketchum · (1 episode)

1977

The Love Boat

Mark Carlson · (1 episode)

1977

The Love Boat

Charley Cole · (1 episode)

1977

Soap

Father Tim · (8 episodes)

1977

Soap

Tim Flotsky · (9 episodes)

1977

Soap

Father Timothy Flotsky · (1 episode)

1977

The Montefuscos

Nunzio Montefusco · (9 episodes)

1975

Barney Miller

Brenner · (1 episode)

1975

Barney Miller

Thomas Vitella · (1 episode)

1975

Barney Miller

Joseph Beatty · (1 episode)

1975

Barney Miller

Victor Renaldi · (1 episode)

1975

The Taking of Pelham One Two Three

Ptl. O'Keefe

1974

MAS*H

Patient John · (2 episodes)

1972

MAS*H

Sergeant Raymond McGill · (1 episode)

1972

The Mike Douglas Show

Self · (1 episode)

1961